Because all great hotels live or die by their bars

GO HERE: for all the superlatives: on the most charming street in one of London’s loveliest neighborhoods (Marylebone), this might just be the prettiest bar, called The Ladder Shed. Part of the appeal owes to the greenery—with plants hanging from the ceiling and palmy trees in pots—and the rest of it to velvet and floral upholstery cozily arranged around a fireplace, the 1940s-style oval bar, and those brilliant floor-to-ceiling white-paned windows.

ORDER THE: Negroni, which is ginnier than usual and tinged with juniper essence.

THE VIBE IS: sceney and fashionable—even the waitresses wear jumpsuits designed by prim British designer Emilia Wickstead—but quiet enough for an intimate pre- or post-dinner drink.

PRACTICAL STUFF: No reservations; officially the bar’s open only to hotel guests (rooms upstairs start at £535/night, but there are almost always a couple of free tables on weeknights. If you're not a hotel guest, be extra nice and try saying that you'll be quick. Hours vary daily, so it's best to check the website before you go. Brunch is served on weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.